Creed dominated the late '90s commercial rock scene, selling more than 20 million albums while blending uplifting melodies with an edgy lyrical perspective. While emphatically denying they're a Christian band, they admit to writing about “spiritual experiences.” Inspired by grunge-rockers Pearl Jam and Nirvana, Scott Stapp and Mark Tremonti founded the group in 1995. The songwriting pair recruited the rhythm section of Brian Marshall and Scott Phillips and began performing original material on the local rock scene. Signed by BMG Records' Wind-Up subsidiary, their debut My Own Prison (1997) generated four No. 1 rock radio singles. Their sophomore effort, Human Clay (1999), debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's album chart and has sold more than ten million copies to date, generating three more No. 1 singles in the process. Creed was named Rock Artist of the Year at Billboard's 1998, 1999, and 2000 Music Awards, and in 2000 the writing team of Tremonti and Stapp won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song for the ballad, “With Arms Wide Open.” In late 2000, during a U.S. tour, bassist Marshall left citing “personal and professional differences.” Creed's third album, Weathered, was released in November 2001.